Manny Pacquiao claims his love for boxing drew him back to the sport for Saturday’s WBO welterweight showdown with Jessie Vargas.
The 37-year-old, a world champion across eight weight divisions ranging from flyweight to light-middleweight, defeated Timothy Bradley by unanimous decision in the rubber match of their trilogy in April.
He entered an ultimately short-lived retirement after that bout and was elected to the Philippines Senate a month later, but the lure of the ring soon proved too great and he will look to embellish upon a professional record of 58 wins, six defeats and two draws against Californian Vargas (27-1) at Las Vegas’ Thomas & Mack Center.
“I decided to continue my journey in boxing because boxing is my passion,” Pacquiao told Omnisport.
“I don’t know [how long the comeback will last] yet but I decided to come back in boxing because I believe that boxing still loves me and I love boxing. I missed boxing.
“I continue my boxing career because I still believe, especially after the result of my last fight with Bradley. My performance showed I can still fight.
“Politics is different and I guess I have to balance and manage it.
“While I’m in training, or working in the office it is about time-management and discipline and then everything is fine.”
Pacquiao expects a stern challenge from Vargas, who is coming off a career-best eighth-round stoppage of Sadam Ali to win the title last time out, bouncing back from a controversial loss to Bradley ? something he shares in common with a man 10 years his senior.
“Jessie Vargas is a champion so I don’t want to underestimate him,” Pacquiao added.
“I’m not taking him lightly, I’ve trained seriously for this fight. I want to be a champion again.”
“If the knockout comes it will come. I will do my best.”
